This morning the NCAA announced sanctions on Penn State's football program that would "reflect the magnitude" of the child abuse scandal that occurred at and was covered up by the university. The goal of the NCAA's sanctions was to "rebuild an athletic culture that went horribly awry."
NCAA President Mark Emmert announced the following sanctions:
1) Penn State is fined 60 million, with funds to be used to establish an endowment that will serve victims of child abuse. The amount is one year's gross revenue of the school's football program.
2) The Penn State football program is banned from bowl games for four years.
3) The program's initial scholarships will be reduced from 25 to 15 per year for four years. Entering or returning athletes will be allowed to transfer and immediately compete for other programs, provided the athlete is still eligible.
4) Penn State vacates all wins from 1998-2011.
5) The university's athletic program will serve a five-year probation during which the NCAA reserves the right to impose more sanctions on individuals associated with the university.
Penn State must also enter into an athletic integrity agreement with the NCAA. An independent athletic integrity monitor will monitor the program for five years and report to the NCAA and the Big 10.
The NCAA executive committee discussed a suspension of football for one or more years -- the so-called "Death Penalty" -- but concluded that the sanctions needed to focus on a "cultural change." The suspension of football program would bring with it unintentional harm to many, Emmert said.